Developing epidemiological research in response to an oil spill disaster in Brazil: study design and validation of a questionnaire

Abstract

The oil spill disaster that affected 11 states along the Brazilian coast in 2019/2020 is considered the largest in Brazil’s history, with approximately five tons of oil residues collected. Small-scale fishers (SSF) were the group at greatest risk of exposure. This article describes the study design and questionnaire validation of the first epidemiolo-gical study in Brazil aimed at investigating the potential health effects of this disaster on SSF. The questionnaire was validated using the Delphi method and consists of 325 questions organized into 13 sections: identification and control, general information, socioeconomic conditions and living situation, work history and organization, fishing activities during the spill, exposure related to spill cleanup, seafood consumption, perceived impacts of the spill, clinical me-asurements, additional health information, lifestyle, quality of life, and COVID-19. The study design incorporated community engagement approaches. The results will enable the assessment of associations between oil exposure and health outcomes, the monitoring of long-term health effects in this population, and the analysis of the occupational and socioeconomic impacts of the disaster.